Dispenser and dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A cigarette dispensing system for dispensing single cigarettes, includes a dispenser and a disposable cartridge for containing the cigarettes. The dispenser in chides housing, a support structure, a cartridge holder, and a dispensing mechanism. The housing has a front side defining a collection receptacle from which dispensed cigarettes are collected and a rear side which has an actuator for operating the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism includes a cigarette guide and a rotatable dispensing drum rotatable in the guide. The drum defines cigarette receiving formation in which a cigarette is received from the cartridge and via rotation of the drum is deposited into a chute leading to the collection receptacle. The positions of the actuator and collection receptacle at opposite sides of the housing allow retail operators to exercise control over the dispensing of cigarettes thereby to ensure that cigarettes are not dispensed to customers such as underage youths.

FIELD INVENTION

This invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing elongate tubulararticles and to a dispensing system for dispensing elongate tubulararticles.

The dispenser and dispensing system in accordance with the invention areconfigured for dispensing elongate tubular articles such as singlecigarettes, cigars and elongate tubular containers for example, of atype suitable for holding a cigar, containers for holding cosmetic andpharmaceutical materials, or the like. Accordingly, any reference hereinto an “elongate tubular article” must be interpreted to mean a referenceto an elongate tubular article such as, but not necessarily limited to,a single cigarette, a cigar, a container for holding an object such as acigar, a container for holding a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material, orthe like.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided adispenser for dispensing elongate tubular articles, the dispenserincluding:

a dispenser housing which has a first major side and an opposite secondmajor side;

an article holder which is disposed at the first major side of thedispenser housing and which is configured for receiving therein elongatetubular articles to be dispensed, the article holder having a dispensingopening at an end thereof, through which the articles are dispensed;

a manually-operable actuator which is disposed at the first major sideof the he a dispensing mechanism which is supported by the housing andwhich is configured for dispensing one of the articles from the articleholder, in use, in response to actuation of the actuator; and

a receptacle which is disposed at the second ma or side of the dispenserhousing, for receiving one of the articles dispensed, in use, from thedispensing mechanism and from which a user may collect the dispensedarticle.

In a particular embodiment, a number of the articles to be dispensed maybe contained in a disposable cartridge which is loaded into the articleholder, the disposable cartridge having an outlet opening which is inregister with the dispensing opening of the article holder.

The dispenser is configured to be used in a retail environment whereinthe first major side of the dispenser housing is located adjacent anarea occupied by a retail operator and wherein the second major side ofthe dispenser housing is located adjacent an area occupied by customersof the retailer. As such, in use, the dispenser is configured to permitthe retail operator to exercise control over dispensing of articlesthereby to ensure that articles are not dispensed to unsuitablecustomers, such as, for example, underage youths. In this regard, theApplicant envisages that the articles may be single cigarettes orcontainers for holding cigars or any other article which should not bedispensed to underage youths.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided adispensing system for dispensing elongate tubular articles, thedispensing system including:

a disposable cartridge containing elongate tubular articles to bedispensed and having an outlet opening at an end thereof through whicharticles may pass, in use, out of the disposable cartridge; and

a dispenser including:

-   -   a) a housing;    -   b) an article holder which is supported relative to the housing        and which is configured for holding the disposable cartridge        therein;    -   c) a manually-operable actuator;    -   d) a dispensing mechanism which is supported relative to the        housing and which is configured for dispensing one of the        articles from the disposable cartridge, in use, in response to        actuation of the actuator; and    -   e) a receptacle supported relative to the housing for receiving        one of the articles dispensed, in use, from the dispensing        mechanism and from which may collect the dispensed article.

The article holder may be operable to hold the disposable cartridge inan arrangement wherein the outlet opening of the cartridge is disposedadjacent an operative lower end of the article holder.

The disposable cartridge may include a cartridge body which has abox-like configuration. The cartridge body may be of a flexible sheetmaterial. More specifically, the cartridge body may be of flexiblecardboard.

In an embodiment wherein the elongate tubular articles to be dispensed,are in the form of single cigarettes, the disposable cartridge mayfurther include a removable outer sheath which surrounds the cartridgebody. The removable outer sheath may be of a sheet material. Morespecifically the removable outer sheath may be of cellophane. Thedisposable cartridge may further include a protective inner sheathlocated within the cartridge body and which surrounds the cigarettescontained within the cartridge body so as to ensure the freshness of thecigarettes. The removable outer sheath may define a grippable formationat an end thereof, which is located at the end opposite to the end atwhich the outlet opening of the disposable cartridge is located, thegrippable formation permitting an operator to grip the grippableformation, in use, and pull the grippable formation so as to permitremoval of the outer sheath, in use. More specifically, in use, thegrippable formation permits the removal of the removable outer sheathparticularly after the cartridge is loaded into the cartridge holder, inuse, in a manner ensuring that cigarettes do not fall out of the outletopening of the cartridge during loading of the article holder, in use.

The dispensing mechanism may include:

an annular article guide which is fixedly connected to the articleholder and disposed, in use, at a location beneath the article holderand which is rotatably mounted relative to the housing such that thearticle holder and the annular article guide are rotatable between adispensing position and a loading position wherein the article holder isaccessible to an operator so as to permit the loading of a disposablecartridge into the article holder, the annular article guide defining aninternal space therein; an outlet formation defining an article outletwhich, when the annular article guide is in the dispensing position,leads out of a lower end of the article guide; and an inlet formationdefining an inlet opening which, when the annular article guide is inthe dispensing position, leads into an upper end of the article guide,the inlet opening being disposed adjacent the outlet opening of thecartridge and being dimensioned to permit passage of a single articlewhich may pass, in use, from the outlet opening of the disposablecartridge and through the inlet opening of the article guide; and

a rotatable dispensing drum which is rotatably received within theinternal space of the annular article guide and which is rotatably aboutan axis of rotation about which the rotatable dispensing drum rotates,in use, the rotatable dispensing drum having at least one articlereceiving formation for receiving one of the articles therein,

the rotatable dispensing drum being displaceable between:

-   -   a first position wherein the rotatable dispensing drum is        rotated to a position wherein the article receiving formation is        in register with the inlet opening of the article guide; and    -   a second position wherein the rotatable dispensing drum is        rotated to a position wherein the article receiving formation is        in register with the article outlet of the article guide.

The dispenser may further include an electrically-powered motor which isconfigured and arranged for driving rotation of the rotatable dispensingdrum.

The manually-operable actuator may be electrically connected to themotor and may be operable in response to actuation thereof, toelectrically power the motor in order to drive rotation of thedispensing drum between is first position and its second position inorder to dispense the article from the outlet of the guide.

The dispenser may include a support structure fixed relative to thehousing.

The dispenser may include mounting means for mounting the dispensingmechanism to the support structure. The mounting means may includerotatable mounting means configured to permit rotational mounting of theannular article guide to the support structure.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided adispenser, as defined and described hereinabove in accordance with thesecond aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided adisposable cartridge, as described and defined hereinabove, inaccordance with the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided adispenser for dispensing elongate tubular articles, the dispenserincluding:

an article holder which is configured for receiving therein, elongatetubular articles to be dispensed, the article holder defining holdingchamber within which the articles are held and a dispensing openingthrough which articles can be dispensed from the holding chamber;

a receptacle which is disposed below the dispensing opening forreceiving articles dispensed from the article holder;

a dispensing mechanism for dispensing articles from the article holder,the dispensing mechanism including:

a) a first gate member which is displaceable between a blocking positionwherein the first gate member blocks the dispensing opening of thearticle holder and an open position wherein the first gate memberpermits articles to be dispensed through the dispensing opening of thearticle holder; and

b) a second gate member which is displaceable between a partial blockingposition wherein the second gate member extends partially into theholding chamber so as to define an opening through which a singlearticle only can pass and a complete blocking position preventing anyarticles from proceeding to the dispensing opening of the articleholder.

The dispenser may include a dispenser housing, the article holder beingdisposed at a first side of the dispenser housing. The receptacle mayhave a collection opening which is accessible at a second side of thedispenser housing, which is disposed opposite the first side of thedispenser housing. The dispenser is configured for use in a retailenvironment wherein the first side of the dispenser housing is locatedadjacent an area occupied by a retail operator and wherein the secondside of the dispenser housing is located adjacent an area occupied bycustomers of the retailer. As such, in use, the dispenser includes amanually-operable activator for activating the dispensing mechanismwhich is located at the first side of the dispenser housing. As such,the dispenser is configured to permit the retail operator to exercisecontrol over dispensing of articles thereby to ensure that articles arenot dispensed to unsuitable customers, such as, for example, underageyouths. In this regard, the Applicant envisages that the articles may besingle cigarettes, cigars or containers for holding cigars or any otherarticles which should not be dispensed to underage youths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of anon-limiting example of the invention, with reference. to and asillustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings, In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rear side of a cigarette dispenserin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a front side of a cigarette dispenserin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 1,illustrating an article holder of the dispenser illustrated in a loadingposition;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 1,sectioned along section lines IV-IV of FIG. 1, illustrating the articleholder of the dispenser illustrated in the loading position;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 1,sectioned along section lines V-V of FIG. 1, illustrating the articleholder in a dispensing position and illustrating a rotatable dispensingdrum of a dispensing mechanism of the dispenser in a first position;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 1,sectioned along section lines VI-VI of FIG. 1 illustrating the articleholder in the dispensing position and illustrating the rotatabledispensing drum in a second position;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the cartridge holder and thedispensing mechanism of the dispenser of FIG. 1, illustrating mountingmeans of the cigarette dispenser and showing the article holder of thedispenser in the loading position, and being loaded with a disposablecartridge;

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 7, sectionedalong section lines VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, illustrating the cartridgeprior to being opened;

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 8, illustratingthe cartridge being opened;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a cigarettedispenser in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 shows a front view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a sectional side view of the cigarette dispenser of FIG.10, sectioned along section line XII-XII of FIG. 11; and

FIGS. 13A-13D, show the cigarette dispenser of FIG. 12, illustrating themodes of operation of the cigarette dispenser for dispensing cigarettes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings a dispensing system fordispensing elongate tubular articles in the form of a cigarettedispensing system in accordance with the invention, is indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10. The cigarette dispensing system10 is configured for dispensing elongate tubular articles in the form ofsingle cigarettes 11 which are each individually sealed in a cellophanewrapping.

The cigarette dispensing system 10 includes a single cigarette dispenser12 and a disposable cartridge 14 configured for containing cigarettes 11to be dispensed and having an outlet opening 15 at an end thereof,through which cigarettes may pass, in use, out of the disposablecartridge 14, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

The single cigarette dispenser 12 includes a housing 16; a supportstructure 18 fixed to the housing; an article holder comprising acartridge holder 20 for holding the disposable cartridge 14; adispensing mechanism 21 including an annular cigarette guide 22 and arotatable dispensing drum 23 for dispensing cigarettes from thedisposable cartridge 14; mounting means in the form of a mounting systemfor mounting the cartridge holder 20 and the dispensing mechanism 21 tothe support structure 18; an electrically powered motor assembly 26; anactuator 28; and a cigarette receptacle 30.

The housing 16 is of a moulded plastics material and has a first majorside in the form of a rear side 32 and an opposite second major side inthe form of a front side 33.

The support structure 18 is fixedly mounted to the housing 16 andincludes a pair of spaced apart support brackets 34 and a connecting rod36 for connecting the brackets 34 a predetermined distance apart fromone another.

The cartridge holder 20 is disposed at the rear side 32 of the housing16 and is configured for receiving therein the disposable cartridge 14containing cigarettes 11 to be dispensed. The cartridge holder 20includes a cartridge holster 38 which is configured and dimensioned forslidingly receiving the disposable cartridge 14 therein, as will beexplained in more detail hereinbelow and a pair of spaced apart holstersupports 40 extending from opposite short sides of the cartridge holster38 and which are connected at operative lower ends 42 thereof to theannular cigarette guide 22, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 of thedrawings.

The dispensing mechanism 21 is configured for dispensing a singlecigarette from the disposable cartridge 14 and is supported by thesupport structure 18 at a location beneath the cartridge holder 20, aswill be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The annular cigaretteguide 22 of the dispensing mechanism 21 is fixedly connected to thecartridge holder 20 as described hereinabove, and is disposed, in use,at a location beneath the cartridge holder 20 and is rotatable mountedrelative to the housing 16 such that the cartridge holder 20 and theannular cigarette guide 20 are rotatable between a dispensing position,as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawing and a loadingposition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 of the drawings, whereinthe cartridge holder 20 is accessible to an operator so as to permit theloading of a disposable cartridge 14 into the cartridge holder 20. Theannular cigarette guide 22 defines an internal space 44 therein; anoutlet formation 46 defining a cigarette outlet 47, which when theannular cigarette guide 22 is in the dispensing position, leads out of alower end 48 of the annular cigarette guide 22 and an inlet formation 50defining an inlet opening 52 which, when the annular cigarette guide 22is in the dispensing position, leads into an upper end 60 of the annularcigarette guide 22, the inlet opening 52 being disposed adjacent theoutlet opening 15 of the disposable cartridge 14 and being dimensionedto permit passage of a single cigarette 11 which may pass, in use, fromthe outlet opening 15 of the disposable cartridge 14 and through theinlet opening 62 of the annular cigarette guide 22. The rotatabledispensing drum 23 of the dispensing mechanism 21 is rotatably receivedwithin the internal space 44 of the annular cigarette guide 22 and isrotatable about an axis of rotation 64 about which the rotatabledispensing drum 23 rotates, in use. The rotatable dispensing drum 23 hasa cigarette receiving formation 66 for receiving a cigarette 11 therein,as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings and as will be explainedin more detail hereinbelow. More particularly, the rotatable dispensingdrum 23 is displaceable between a first position as illustrated in FIG.5 of the drawings, and a second position, as illustrated in FIG. 6 ofthe drawings. More specifically, FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates thefirst position wherein the rotatable dispensing drum 23 is rotated to aposition wherein the cigarette receiving formation 66 is in registerwith the inlet opening 52 of the annular cigarette guide 22 and receivesa cigarette therein, which passed, in use, through the inlet opening 52of the annular cigarette guide 22 and into the cigarette receivingformation 66 of the dispensing drum 23. FIG. 6 of the drawingsillustrates the second position wherein the rotatable dispensing drum 23is rotated to a position wherein the cigarette receiving formation 66 isin register with the cigarette outlet 47 of the annular cigarette guide22 and is operable to release the cigarette such that the cigarettepasses through the cigarette outlet 47 of the annular cigarette guide22.

The electrically powered motor assembly 26 is configured and arrangedfor driving rotation of the rotatable dispensing drum 23 and comprises amotor housing 68 which is fixedly mounted to the support brackets 34, asillustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings; a motor 69 rotatably mountedwithin the motor housing 68 and a rotating motor drive shaft 70(illustrated in section view in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings) whichextends from the motor 69.

The mounting system includes the rotatable dispensing drum mountingsystem and the cartridge holder and annular cigarette guide mountingsystem. The rotatable dispensing drum mounting system is provided by therotating motor drive shaft 70 which extends through an aperture (notshown) provided therefore in a particular one of the support brackets 24to which the motor housing 68 is fixedly mounted, the motor drive shaft70 being received within the rotatable dispensing drum 23 in anarrangement permitting the motor drive shaft 70 to drive rotation of therotatable dispensing drum 23 about the axis of rotation 64.

With reference to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the cartridge holder and theannular cigarette guide mounting system, is provided by a number ofradially spaced mounting guide pins 85 which extend from the pair ofsupport brackets 34 and which are received within a number ofcorresponding radially spaced grooves 87 which are provided on outersides of the annular cigarette guide 22 and which are configured toslidingly receive the mounting guide pins 85 therein, in an arrangementpermitting the annular cigarette guide 22 and the cartridge holder 20connected thereto to rotate, in use, so as to provide for rotationaldisplacement of the cartridge holder 20 between the loading position andthe dispensing position, as described and illustrated hereinabove.

The actuator 28 is disposed at the rear side 32 of the housing 16 and isoperable in response to actuation thereof to electrically power themotor 69 in order to drive rotation of the rotatable dispensing drum 23between the first position and the second position, in order to dispensethe cigarette from the cigarette outlet 47 of the annular cigaretteguide 22 in the manner described and illustrated hereinabove.

The cigarette receptacle 30 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6of the drawings. The cigarette receptacle 30 is mounted to the supportbrackets 34 and supported beneath the dispensing mechanism 21, asillustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. More specifically, the cigarettereceptacle 30 is disposed at the front side 33 of the housing and isconfigured for receiving a cigarette dispensed, in use, from thedispensing mechanism 21 as best illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawingsand from which a user may collect the dispensed cigarette.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the disposablecartridge 14 includes a cartridge body 71; a removable outer sheath 74;and a protective inner sheath 76. The cartridge body 72 has a box-likeconfiguration and is of a flexible sheet material, such as, for example,cardboard. The removable outer sheath 74 surrounds the cartridge body 72and is of sheet material, such as, for example, cellophane. Theremovable outer sheath 74 forms a hermetic seal to ensure the freshnessof the cigarettes contained within the cartridge body 72 of thedisposable cartridge 14. The removable outer sheath 74 has a grippableformation 75 which is grasped by an operator, in use, and pulled asillustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings in order to permit the removableouter sheath 74 which is removed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9 ofthe drawings. More particularly, the grippable formation 75 is definedat an end of the outer sheath 74 which is located at the end opposite tothe end at which the outlet opening 15 of the disposable cartridge 14 islocated, the grippable formation permitting an operator to grip thegrippable formation 75, in use, and pull the grippable formation 75 soas to permit removal of the outer sheath 74, in use. More specifically,in use, the grippable formation 75 permits the removal of the removableouter sheath 74 particularly after the disposable cartridge 14 is loadedinto the cartridge holder 20, in use, in a manner ensuring thatcigarettes do not fall out of the outlet opening 15 of the disposablecartridge 14 during loading of the cartridge holder 20, in use. Theprotective inner sheath 76 is located within the cartridge body 71 andsurrounds the cigarettes contained within the cartridge body 71 so as toensure the freshness of the cigarettes.

The applicant envisages that the disposable cartridge 14 thus ensuresthat the single cigarette dispenser 12 is operable to dispense “fresh”cigarettes which are particularly kept fresh by the the removable outersheath 74 and the protective inner sheath 76. Furthermore, the applicantenvisages that the cigarettes dispensed by the single cigarettedispenser 12 will be of high quality, as the cigarettes are particularlynot handled by the hands of the operator, as the loading of thecigarettes, as described and illustrated hereinabove, does not requirethe operator to touch the cigarettes at any stage. This is greatlyadvantageous as a problem previously associated with the dispensing ofsingle cigarettes is that the operator has previously been required tohandle the cigarettes. This is undesirable because the cigarettes arefragile and are easily damaged. Furthermore oil and moisture from theoperator's hands contaminates and damages the cigarettes. Furthermore,the handling of cigarettes by the operator is particularly unhygienicand may contribute to the spread of diseases or may be perceived to doso.

The applicant also envisages that the single cigarette dispenser 12 isadvantageous as the single cigarette dispenser 12 is configured to beused in a retail environment wherein the rear side 32 of the dispenserhousing 16 is located adjacent an area occupied by a retail operator andwherein the front side 33 of the dispenser housing 16 is locatedadjacent an area occupied by customers of the retailer. As such, in use,the single cigarette dispenser 12 is configured to permit the retailoperator to exercise control over the dispensing of cigarettes, therebyto ensure that cigarettes are not dispensed to unsuitable customers,such as, for example, underage youths.

With reference to FIGS. 10 to 13 of the drawings, another embodiment ofa dispensing system for dispensing elongate tubular articles, in theform of a cigarette dispensing system in accordance with the invention,is designated generally by the reference numeral 100. The cigarettedispensing system 10 is configured for the dispensing elongate tubulararticles in the form of single cigarettes 11 which are contained in acartridge 90.

The dispenser 100 comprises, broadly, an article holder in the form of acartridge holder 92 for holding the cartridge 90, a receptacle 94 whichis disposed below the article holder for receiving articles dispensedfrom the article holder, and a dispensing mechanism generally designatedby the reference numeral 96 for dispensing articles from the articleholder.

The article holder defines a holding chamber 98 within which thecartridge 90 is received in a snug fit. The cartridge 90 has an openablelower end which can be opened to allow cigarettes contained therein topass therethrough. The cigarettes are held in the cartridge in twocolumns as is shown in FIGS. 13A-13D.

The dispensing mechanism includes a first gate member 102 which is actedupon by a series of levers connected to a servo motor and a second gatemember 106 which is acted upon by a series of levers connected to aservo motor. The first gate member is displaceable between a blockingposition (as is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13D) wherein the gate member 102blocks the dispensing opening of the article holder and an open positionwherein the gate member 102 permits articles to be dispensed through thedispensing opening of the article holder. The dispensing mechanismincludes a second gate member 106 which is displaceable between apartial blocking position wherein the gate member 106 extends partiallyinto the holding chamber 98 so as to define an opening through which asingle article only can pass (as is shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C) and acomplete blocking position (as is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13D) preventingany articles from proceeding the dispensing opening of the articleholder.

In use, in its open position, the gate member 102 allows articles to bedispensed from the article holder, while in the blocking position thegate member 102 closes off the dispensing article holder. The gatemember 106 is in the form of a plate having cut-outs formed thereinthrough which single cigarettes can pass when the cut-out is broughtinto register with a cigarette above it. With reference to FIG. 13A ofthe drawings, the gate member 102 is shown in its blocking position andthe gate member 106 is in a complete blocking position preventing anycigarettes from proceeding to the dispensing opening of the articleholder. In FIG. 13B the gate member 102 is in its blocking position,while the gate member 106 is displaced to the left in a partial blockingposition permitting a cigarette in the right hand column to drop onto anupper side of the gate member 102. In order to dispense the cigarette,the gate member 106 is again displaced to the right into a completeblocking position and the gate member 102 is displaced to the left intoits open position permitting the cigarette to drop into the receptacle94 from which it can be collected. In FIG. 13C, the gate member 102 isshown in its blocking position, with the gate member 106 displaced tothe right bringing the left hand cut-out into register with thelowermost cigarette in the left hand column thereby permitting thecigarette to drop onto the upper side of the first gate member 102. Insimilar fashion, the cigarette is permitted to, drop into the receptacle94 by further displacement of the first and second gate members. FIG.13D shows the gate member 102 in its open position and the gate member106 in its complete blocking position.

As for the dispenser 10, the dispenser 100 includes a dispenser housing,with the article holder 92 being disposed at a first side of thedispenser housing. As such, the receptacle has a collection opening 108which is accessible at an opposite side of the dispenser housing. Thedispenser is configured for use in a retail environment where the firstside of the dispenser housing is located adjacent an area occupied by aretail operator and wherein the opposite side of the dispenser housingis located adjacent an area occupied by customers of the retailer. Assuch, in use, the dispenser includes a manually-operable actuator foractuating the dispensing mechanism, which is located at the first sideof the dispensing housing such that the dispenser is configured topermit the retail operator to exercise control over dispensing ofarticles. In this manner, articles such as cigarettes or cigars whichare not to be dispensed to underage youths, can be controlled.

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the dispenser anddispensing system described hereinabove may vary greatly while stillincorporating the essential features defined herein. More specifically,the Applicant envisages that the dispenser and dispensing system may beconfigured for dispensing other elongate tubular articles such aselongate tubular containers of a type suitable for holding a cigar,containers for holding cosmetic or pharmaceutical materials, or thelike.

1. A dispensing system for dispensing elongate tubular articles, thedispensing system including: a disposable cartridge containing elongatetubular articles to be dispensed and having an outlet opening at an endthereof through which articles may pass, in use, out of the disposablecartridge; and a dispenser including: a) a housing; b) article holderwhich is supported relative to the housing and which is configured forholding the disposable cartridge therein; c) a manually-operableactuator; d) a dispensing mechanism which is supported relative to thehousing and which is configured for dispensing one of the articles fromthe disposable cartridge, in use, in response to actuation of theactuator; and e) a receptacle supported relative to the housing forreceiving one of the articles dispensed, in use, from the dispensingmechanism and from which a user may collect the dispensed article. 2.The dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article holderis operable to hold the disposable cartridge in an arrangement whereinthe outlet opening of the cartridge is disposed adjacent an operativelower end of the article holder.
 3. The dispensing system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the disposable cartridge includes a cartridge bodywhich has a box-like configuration.
 4. The dispensing system as claimedin claim 1, wherein the cartridge body is of a flexible sheet material.5. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cartridgebody is of flexible cardboard.
 6. The dispensing system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the elongate tubular articles to be dispensed, are inthe form of single cigarettes, the disposable cartridge furtherincluding a removable outer sheath which surrounds the cartridge body.7. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the removableouter sheath is of a sheet material.
 8. The dispensing system as claimedin claim 7, wherein the removable outer sheath is of cellophane.
 9. Thedispensing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the disposablecartridge further includes a protective inner sheath located within thecartridge body, and which surrounds the cigarettes contained within thecartridge body so as to ensure the freshness of the cigarettes.
 10. Thedispensing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the removable outersheath defines a grippable formation at an end thereof which is locatedat the end opposite to the end at which the outlet opening of thedisposable cartridge is located, the grippable formation permitting anoperator to grip the grippable formation, in use, and pull the grippableformation so as to permit removal of the outer sheath, in use.
 11. Thedispensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensingmechanism includes: an annular article guide which is fixedly connectedto the article holder and disposed, in use, at a location beneath thearticle holder and which is rotatably mounted relative to the housingsuch that the article holder and the annular article guide are rotatablebetween a dispensing position and a loading position wherein the articleholder is accessible to an operator so as to permit the loading of adisposable cartridge into the article holder, the annular article guidedefining an internal space therein; art outlet formation defining anarticle outlet which, when the annular article guide is in thedispensing position, leads out of a lower end of the article guide; andan inlet formation defining an inlet opening which, when the annulararticle guide is in the dispensing position, leads into an upper end ofthe article guide, the inlet opening being disposed adjacent the outletopening of the cartridge and being dimensioned to permit passage of asingle article which may pass, in use, from the outlet opening of thedisposable cartridge and through the inlet opening of the article guide;and a rotatable dispensing drum which is rotatably received within theinternal space of the annular article guide and which is rotatably aboutan axis of rotation about which the rotatable dispensing drum rotates,in use, the rotatable dispensing drum having at least one articlereceiving formation for receiving one of the articles therein, therotatable dispensing drum being displaceable between: a first positionwherein the rotatable dispensing drum is rotated to a position whereinthe article receiving formation is in register with the inlet opening ofthe article guide; and a second position wherein the rotatabledispensing drum is rotated to a position wherein the article receivingformation is in register with the article outlet of the article guide.12. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispenserfurther includes an electrically-powered motor which is configured andarranged for driving rotation of the rotatable dispensing drum.
 13. Thedispensing system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the manually-operableactuator is electrically connected to the motor and is operable inresponse to actuation thereof, to electrically power the motor in orderto drive rotation of the dispensing drum between its first position andits second position in order to dispense the article from the outlet ofthe guide.
 14. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedispenser includes a support structure fixed relative to the housing.15. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the dispenserincludes mounting means for mounting the dispensing mechanism to thesupport structure.
 16. The dispensing system as claimed in claim 15,wherein the mounting means includes rotatable mounting means configuredto permit rotational mounting of the annular article guide to thesupport structure.
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. A dispenser fordispensing elongate tubular articles, the dispenser including: anarticle holder which is configured for receiving therein, elongatetubular articles to be dispensed, the article holder defining holdingchamber within which the articles are held and a dispensing openingthrough which articles can be dispensed from the holding chamber; areceptacle which is disposed below the dispensing opening for receivingarticles dispensed from the article holder; a dispensing mechanism fordispensing articles from the article holder, the dispensing mechanismincluding: a) a first gate member which is displaceable between ablocking position wherein the first gate member blocks the dispensingopening of the article holder and an open position wherein the firstgate member permits articles to be dispensed through the dispensingopening of the article holder; and b) a second gate member which isdisplaceable between a partial blocking position wherein the second gatemember extends partially into the holding chamber so as to define anopening through which a single article only can pass and a completeblocking position preventing any articles from proceeding to the openingof the article holder.
 20. The dispenser as claimed in claim 19, whichincludes a dispenser housing, the article holder being disposed at afirst side of the dispenser housing.
 21. The dispenser as claimed inclaim 20, wherein the receptacle has a collection opening which isaccessible at a second side of the dispenser housing, which is disposedopposite the first side of the dispenser housing.
 22. The dispenser asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the dispenser is configured for use in aretail environment wherein the first side of the dispenser housing islocated adjacent an area occupied by a retail operator and wherein thesecond side of the dispenser housing located adjacent an area occupiedby customers of the retailer.
 23. The dispenser as claimed in claim 22,wherein the dispenser includes a manually-operable activator foractivating the dispensing mechanism which is located at the first sideof the dispenser housing.
 24. A dispenser for dispensing elongatetubular articles, the dispenser including: a dispenser housing which hasa first major side and an opposite second major side; an article holderwhich is disposed at the first major side of the dispenser housing andwhich is configured for receiving therein elongate tubular articles tobe dispensed, the article holder having a dispensing opening at an endthereof, through which the articles are dispensed; a manually-operableactuator which is disposed at the first major side of the housing; adispensing mechanism which is supported by the housing and which isconfigured for dispensing one of the articles from the article holder,in use, in response to actuation of the actuator; and a receptacle whichis disposed at the second major side of the dispenser housing, forreceiving one of the articles dispensed, in use, from the dispensingmechanism and from which a user may collect the dispensed article. 25.The dispenser as claimed in claim 24, wherein a number of the articlesto be dispensed are contained in a disposable cartridge which is loadedinto the article holder, the disposable cartridge having an outletopening which is in register with the dispensing opening of the articleholder.